Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards Archives

Deibert’s Award-Winning Mid-Bowie

Steve Shackleford

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December 18, 2012

ABS journeyman smith Michael Deibert took home the George Peck Award for the best knife made by a journeyman smith applicant at this year’s BLADE Show.

“I forged this knife after a long look at many historical and modern bowies. After a few rough sketches I lit the forge, heated a hefty piece of 1095 and let the hammer fall. I tried to come up with something as original as possible, yet maintain the flavor of the bowie. Even though the bowie inspired this particular knife, it is a bit shorter, though I don’t consider it a ‘small knife.’ For this reason I call it the ‘Mid-Bowie.’”—Michael Deibert

Knife Name: Mid-Bowie

Maker: Michael Deibert

Award: George Peck Award for the best knife submitted by an ABS journeyman smith applicant

Blade Material: 1095 carbon steel

Blade Length: 8.5”

Handle: Stabilized spalted maple

Special Features: Guard and pin are both cold-blued mild steel; a slender clip extends the majority of the blade length

Overall Length: 13”

Maker’s List Price For a Similar Piece: $400

Click here for a full list of award recipients from the 2012 BLADE Show.

2012 BLADE Show Knife Collection Display Awards

Steve Shackleford

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June 11, 2012

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The most extensive knife collection displays anywhere helped highlight this past weekend’s 31st Annual BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia. Four won awards for being the best of the lot, with Brent and Dee Schindewolf topping them all by winning Best Of Show for their special collection of Buck knives.

The winners, by award:

Best Of Show: Buck Gen Five Josh Buck Skinners, by Brent and Dee Schindewolf

Judges Award: Miniatures: Faberge of Firearms, by Tom and Gwen Guinn

Judges Award: Buck Factory Production Knives of the 1960s, by Larry Oden

Judges Award: Buck 110s, by Jim Seagle (a Buck 110 is pictured at left)

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Blade Magazine 2012 Most Innovative American Design

Steve Shackleford

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September 27, 2012

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The AUTONOMY, by SPYDERCO

•Designer: Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Sal Glesser

•Pattern: Automatic folder

•Blade steel: H-1

•Blade length: 3.65”

•Blade pattern: Sheepfoot/rescue

•Blade grind: Hollow

•Blade finish: Satin (and a future DLC-coated version)

•Edge configuration: SpyderEdge

•Handle material: G10

•Closed length: 4.92”

•Operating/locking mechanism: Modified button lock

•Weight: 5.5 ozs.

•MSRP: $350+

The Blade Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards are voted on each year at the BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) by the show’s exhibiting booth holders, plus a panel of five special judges, the latter whose votes count double. The 2013 BLADE Show will be held May 31-June 2, once again at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia.

For the latest knives, knife trends, knifemakers, what knives to buy and where, knife legislation, knifemaking instruction, and much more, subscribe to BLADE® Magazine, the World’s No. 1 Knife Publication. Click on http://www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us/?lid=blss092712

Knife Rights Wins a Blade Magazine 2012 Industry Achievement Award

Steve Shackleford

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June 18, 2012

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Knife Rights, one of America’s premier organizations defending the right to own and use knives and edged tools, was presented with one of two Blade Magazine 2012 Industry Achievement Awards® at the annual Blade Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year Awards Banquet at the BLADE Show in Atlanta, Georgia.

Also receiving a Blade Magazine 2012 Industry Achievement Award was the American Knife & Tool Institute, also for its efforts in protecting Americans’ right to own, use and carry knives.

Knife Rights was recognized for its “diligence in working to have pro-knife legislation passed in a number of states this year,” said BLADE® Magazine editor, Steve Shackleford. Managing Editor Joe Joe Kertzman noted, “the legislative offensive mounted… this year has been nothing short of historic.”

The annual awards by BLADE Magazine at the BLADE Show are recognized as the pinnacle of achievement in the knife industry. The BLADE Show is the largest cutlery show in the world held every year in Atlanta. Georgia represented one of Knife Rights’ successes this year with Knife Law Preemption set to become law on July 1, protecting BLADE Show attendees from certain onerous restrictive knife regulations.

Doug Ritter, Knife Rights chairman, said, “Knife Rights is honored to be recognized for our achievements in defending knife owners’ rights. We sincerely appreciate the support from individuals and industry that has allowed us to make great strides this year. ”

Knife Rights’ legislative successes this year to date include the Knife Law Preemption bill in Georgia, clarification of the switchblade law that legalized assisted-opening knives and the manufacture of assisted-opening and switchblade knives in Washington and the passage of a bill repealing Missouri’s switchblade ban, currently awaiting the governor’s signature.

In addition, Knife Rights made real progress on bills in Alaska, Indiana and Kansas that passed by super majorities in one house of the legislature and which would have been on track to pass into law except for election year and redistricting politics. Knife Rights expects to be back in these states next year to finish the job. In addition, Knife Rights has switchblade ban repeal and preemption legislation pending in Pennsylvania, as well as efforts in additional states.

Ritter said, “This is a long term effort. Our rights weren’t lost overnight and they won’t be restored overnight. Knife Rights is committed to passing pro-knife legislation in all 50 states.

For more on the latest knives, knife legislation, knifemaking instruction, knife trends, knifemakers, what knives to buy and where and much more, subscribe to BLADE® Magazine, the World’s No. 1 Knife Publication. Click on http://www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us for more information.

1 Week To The BLADE Show: Knives Of The Year®

Steve Shackleford

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June 1, 2012

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With it only seven days until the world’s most important knife event—the 31st Annual BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) June 8-10 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta—that means the Blade Magazine 2012 Knives Of The Year® are on the cusp of being named.

The Blade Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards are barometers of the most successful companies in the knife industry and, as such, are production cutlery’s benchmark honors.

Qualifying exhibitors display their entries at their respective booths and in the center display area in the BLADE Show hall for patrons to examine and enjoy.

The winners will be announced at the BLADE Magazine Awards Banquet (tickets required) the Saturday night of the show, and a list of the winners will be posted at the show hall entrance the following morning.

The categories for the Blade Magazine 2012 Knife-Of-The-Year Awards (with the 2011 winners in parentheses) are: Overall® (Zero Tolerance Model 0777); American-Made® (Spyderco Native Fluted Titanium); Imported® (Spyderco Valllotton Sub-Hilt Folder); Most Innovative American Design® (Microtech SF [pictured above]); Most Innovative Imported Design® (Fox Knives USA Ax-Dobolock); Best Buy Of The Year® (Columbia River Knife & Tool Shenanigan PPS); Investor/Collector® (William Henry Studio B12 Rising Sun); Collaboration® (Zero Tolerance/Rick Hinderer Model 0560); Manufacturing Quality® (Chris Reeve Knives); Accessory® (Blade-Tech’s MOLLE-Lok); Kitchen® (Shun Fuji chef’s knife from Kershaw); Publisher’s® (New Hampshire Rep. Jenn Coffey); and Industry Achievement® (former National Knife Museum Curator Pete Cohan).

For more on the latest knives, knife legislation, knifemaking instruction, knife trends, knifemakers, what knives to buy and where and much more, subscribe to BLADE Magazine, the World’s No. 1 Knife Publication.

AKTI Wins a Blade Magazine 2012 Industry Achievement Award®

Steve Shackleford

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June 28, 2012

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The American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) won a Blade Magazine 2012 Industry Achievement Award® for stellar work in the area of pro-knife legislation at the recent BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) in Atlanta.

Another organization receiving a Blade Magazine 2012 Industry Achievement Award was Knife Rights, also for its efforts in protecting Americans’ right to own, use and carry knives.

Accepting the award on behalf of AKTI was AKTI Executive Director Jan Billeb (pictured above). “It was a real pleasure to accept the Industry Achievement Award from BLADE® Magazine on behalf of the AKTI Board of Regents and all members of the American Knife & Tool Institute who have diligently worked since 1998 to ensure that our liberties to make, own or use knives or edged tools have not been further restricted, and to successfully remove knife law restrictions. We are pleased that BLADE Magazine recognizes the achievements of our organization on behalf of the knife industry and all knife owners,” Billeb said. “There is still a lot of work to be done to make reasonable and responsible changes state by state and we appreciate the support of the entire knife community.”

In May, the Louisiana governor signed AKTI-supported legislation that made it clear that a knife with a bias toward closure is not an illegal switchblade. Bias-toward-closure language is a concept that has stood the test of time since AKTI introduced it in California over a decade ago, an AKTI press release reported. Several states, including Texas and Kansas, have since adopted it, as well as it being incorporated into the Federal Switchblade Act. This language clarifies that assisted-opening knives are not classified as “illegal” switchblades or gravity knives. More information about the bias-toward closure-concept and AKTI’s past successes recognized by BLADE is available at www.akti.org

AKTI is working with legislators in South Carolina to pass pre-emption language, Pennsylvania to remove all knife restrictions, Michigan to remove the switchblade prohibition and other restrictions, Alaska to incorporate the bias-toward-closure language, as well as in several other states to remove or lessen knife restrictions.

In an interview after the ceremony AKTI President Bill Raczkowski commented, “Thanks to BLADE Magazine for honoring AKTI with an Industry Achievement Award acknowledging the proactive efforts of our organization. Our members sincerely appreciate the many ways that BLADE Magazine and the BLADE Show help us spread the word about the importance of AKTI’s efforts to keep knives in American lives.”

For more on the latest knives, knife legislation, knifemaking instruction, knife trends, knifemakers, what knives to buy and where and much more, subscribe to BLADE® Magazine, the World’s No. 1 Knife Publication. Click on http://www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us /?r+ssfb062812 for more information.

2025 Knife Of The Year® Award Winners

BLADE Staff

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June 9, 2025

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The 2025 BLADE Magazine Knife of the Year® Awards proved tougher—and tighter—than ever before.

As the years go on the BLADE Magazine Knife Of The Year® Awards only get sharper. The 2025 chapter, held during the June 7-9 BLADE Show at the Cobb County Galleria, is a case in point.

Hosting among the largest fields to date in the factory knife competition, the contents had roughly 350-400 entries vying for the title of “Best” in their respective categories. Add-in production knives are reaching an unimaginable height in both design and manufacturing quality, the event was as tight as ever. Speaking to the stiffness of the competition, two categories produced contender finishers—an honor meant to recognize a creation that is nearly on par with the category winner.

The winners were selected by a panel of four judges, experts drawn from different backgrounds in the knife industry. Below are their selections of knives that are more than worthy of calling themselves Knife Of The Year®.